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Richt's program bolstered by victory in 2001

A new foundation

Georgia fullback Verron Haynes caught this 6-yard pass to help the Bulldogs knock off Tennessee in 2001.

Jeff Blake/Staff On the second floor of Georgia's Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall one afternoon this week, receiver Mario Raley and fullback Chris Hickman stood intently watching a large screen television that shows highlights of one of most memorable moments in the program's history.

What had their rapt attention was 44 seconds that laid the foundation for coach Mark Richt's program.

The wayback machine has been turned back a couple of years this week to Oct. 6, 2001, when Richt took Georgia away from the hedges for the first time as a rookie head coach to face Tennessee in Knoxville. He came home with a landmark victory, a star quarterback in the making and the start of a new era that culminated with the 2002 SEC championship.

"I think that was a game that really solidified some of the things that we were trying to teach our players," Richt said. "Our players really bought in 100 percent after that game as to the type of things we were trying to get done."

Richt, quarterback David Greene, and this year's version of the Bulldogs return to the scene of one of their most cherished moments tonight.

The outcome will give either the Bulldogs (4-1, 2-1 SEC) or Volunteers (4-1, 2-1) a big boost in their chances of representing the SEC East in the conference title game.

The stakes may be higher, but it will take a Hail Mary-type ending to top the gripping drama of Georgia's 26-24 victory two years ago.

Hearts sunk in Bulldog Nation when Tennessee running back Travis Stephens took a screen pass 62 yards for a 24-20 lead on what looked to be the game-winning touchdown with 44 seconds to play.

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The Bulldogs found Houdini, going 59 yards in five plays behind the poise of Greene, then a redshirt freshman, playing before 107,592 fans and the CBS cameras.

Greene hit tight end Randy McMichael for 26 and 14 yards. After a timeout, Georgia had the ball at the Tennessee 6 with 10 seconds to play.

Richt pulled out a play he had success with at Florida State. Senior fullback Verron Haynes turned "P-44 Haynes" - a play-action pass - into a wide-open touchdown in the middle of the end zone with just five ticks left on the clock.

"My God Almighty, did you just see what he did!," Larry Munson bellowed in his call of the action. "David Greene straightened up and we snuck the fullback over. We just stepped on their face with a hobnail boot and broke their nose! We just crushed their face!"

The call was memorable. A Hobnail Boot T-shirt sprouted up. So did a commemorative print of Haynes' catch.

Georgia's first win in Knoxville since Herschel Walker was a freshman in 1980 gave the Bulldogs a reason to believe what Richt was selling.

"They realized how important it was to play hard the whole game and never give up and understand why we had worked them so hard for a moment like that," Richt said.

The Bulldogs have gone 9-1 in road games under Richt and crafted three more fourth-quarter comebacks in 2002 on their way to a 13-1 season. It started with that comeback in Knoxville.

"It was huge for David because I've coached some guys who have played two seasons and never had a defining moment in their career when they stepped forward and helped you make some plays that helped you win a big game," Richt said. "Especially at a place like Tennessee."

Greene is 25-6 as a starter.

"It was big for my confidence," said Greene, who was 21-of-34 for 303 yards and two touchdowns in the game. "It was my first away game. I think it gave the team confidence in me, too, since I was a freshman, that I could handle the pressure."

"The players actually now believe if we ever are down in the fourth quarter we could always come back," said receiver Fred Gibson, who made his first college start in the 2001 Tennessee game, scoring on a 15-yard touchdown on his first college catch. "We learned from that, won the SEC Championship last year and went 13-1. This year, right now, we're just trying to do the same thing. If we get past Tennessee, we hold our own destiny."

Georgia at Tennessee

WHEN: 7:45 p.m. today

WHERE: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn.

TV/RADIO: ESPN2; WGAU (1340-AM), WNGC (106.1-FM), WRFC (960-AM)

RANKINGS: Georgia is 8th in the AP poll, 10th in USA Today/ESPN coaches poll. Tennessee is 13th and 14th.